
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 30232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12732]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Office of Commercial Space Transportation Safety Approval 
Performance Criteria

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notification of criteria used to evaluate the Zero Gravity 
Corporation (Zero Gravity) safety approval application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA issued Zero Gravity a safety approval, subject to the 
provisions of Title 51 U.S.C Subtitle V, ch. 509, and the orders, rules 
and regulations issued under it. Pursuant to 14 CFR 414.35, this Notice 
publishes the criteria that were used to evaluate the safety approval 
application.
    Background: Zero Gravity applied for, and received, a safety 
approval for its capability to provide a reduced gravity environment 
using a Boeing 727 aircraft. The performance criteria for this safety 
approval are applicant developed per 14 CFR 414.19 (a)(4). Zero Gravity 
is capable of replicating three reduced gravity levels associated with 
suborbital space flight. The reduced gravity levels are:

--0.00 g  0.05 g for 17 continuous seconds.
--0.16 g  0.05 g for 20 continuous seconds.
--0.38 g  0.05 g for 20 continuous seconds.

    Criteria Used To Evaluate Safety Approval Application: The reduced 
gravity environment provided by Zero Gravity was evaluated by the FAA 
as a component of a flight crew qualification and training process. The 
evaluation included the FAA's assessment of Zero Gravity's ability to 
accurately replicate the specified reduced gravity levels.
    Zero-G submitted the following data to show how they were in 
compliance with the criteria:

--Parabolic Aircraft Acceleration Measurement System (PAAMS) power and 
calibration procedures,
--Parabolic Aircraft Acceleration Flight Data, and
--Gravity Level Reports.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For questions about the performance 
criteria, you may contact Randy Maday, Licensing and Evaluation 
Division (AST-200), FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation 
(AST), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 331, Washington, DC 20591, 
telephone (202) 267-8652; e-mail randal.maday@faa.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2011.
George C. Nield,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2011-12732 Filed 5-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


